Over 700 women have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse at Rikers Island, reported by Gothamist, involving claims of late-night sex assaults, invasive searches, and violent rape by jail employees from 1976 to as recently as last year. These allegations have prompted a significant response, including 719 civil lawsuits filed under the Adult Survivors Act against the City of New York and the NYC Department of Correction, seeking a total of $14 billion in damages. NY lawmakers have vowed legislation and hearings in response, highlighting the systemic issues within NYC's jail system. The scope of the allegations, influenced by Me Too–inspired legislation, places Rikers in the context of other major institutions recently scrutinized for sexual abuse scandals, such as Columbia University, USA Gymnastics, and the Catholic Church.
Not long after the initial Me Too revelations in 2017, service workers and farmworkers began pushing for protection against sexual harassment and assault. Now former inmates at Rikers are using a Me Too–inspired law to seek justice for sexual violence. https://t.co/MI9c5qOSix
Pregnant Incarcerated Women Can’t Get Abortion, Basic Care Even in Blue States https://t.co/SpODY0iGKj
Me Too–inspired legislation has led to a large-scale claim by hundreds of formerly incarcerated New Yorkers who say they were sexually assaulted by Rikers Island corrections officers. https://t.co/MI9c5qOSix
Me Too was often portrayed as solely focused on elite women’s concerns. That would be news to the female prisoners at New York’s Rikers Island who have used a Me Too–inspired law to seek justice for over 700 alleged sexual assaults by guards in the jail. https://t.co/MI9c5qOksZ
.@CorrectionNYC's alleged failure to protect women in its custody from sexual abuse is appalling. Reports of violence, mismanagement, and lack of accountability demonstrate why we must close Rikers ASAP and appoint a federal receiver to keep people safe. https://t.co/k7hA1yV0r5
719 sexual assault lawsuits over alleged abuse at Rikers Island seek $14 billion from NYC. @MKramerTV reports. https://t.co/Ubpcqreeea
The 700+ cases filed regarding allegations of sexual assault at Rikers require immediate and thorough investigations. My statement: https://t.co/DAAQKM4btn https://t.co/qWaSSK7dSW
NY lawmakers vow legislation and hearings in response to sexual abuse allegations at Rikers https://t.co/1ieoiCAd2N
Paige had a high-risk pregnancy and wanted an abortion in Illinois, a state hailed as a haven for reproductive rights. But because she was in jail, she couldn't get one. In response to her request, she said jail staff wrote an emoticon: :( Full story: https://t.co/hX2nXOQZBi
Just spoke last week with Adults Survivors Act sponsor @CatalinaCruzNY about efforts to revisit the law around the look-back window & statute of limitations for alleged assaults during incarceration (43:05): https://t.co/54YjmGZJnk https://t.co/9aq7EAYjma
“This is the first time I became aware of it," Mayor Adams said about this incredible, in-depth report of sexual assault on Rikers ... which, yes, it's a new story, but it's not a new issue, at all. And I imagine Adams knew it was a problem. https://t.co/pZeBuNsa7x
Mismanagement and abuse in NY jail systems has a human cost resulting in life-altering events. It’s deeply concerning + illustrative that 57% of ASA lawsuits filed at State Supreme Court allege sexual misconduct inside a deeply dysfunctional Rikers Island.https://t.co/T7bZhuovsy
"At least nine women said they were sexually assaulted or raped while pregnant on Rikers Island, including one who said a doctor groped her breasts and prodded her so intensely during a gynecological exam that her cervix ruptured." https://t.co/17l5QxFHY3
Reading this made me sick to my stomach. Our city has consistently failed to keep women in custody safe. Today I am thinking of the survivors who endured horrific abuse. We need to shut down that hellhole and bulldoze the jails. Rikers is irredeemable. https://t.co/4LuzXXtqBC
"Accounts spanning from 1976 to as recently as last year describe a system where jail employees groped detainees, forcibly kissed them, ordered them to perform oral sex and engaged in violent rape." — @jessyednews @samanthaellimax report https://t.co/cpNpYt0m9O
A new report shares stories from women who were pregnant while in county jails across Illinois. Researchers also learned that a quarter of county jails do not have written policies on how to care for people who are pregnant or postpartum. https://t.co/F3pqj9kqTL
"719 civil lawsuits analyzed by @Gothamist that were recently filed against the City of New York and the NYC Department of Correction under the #AdultSurvivorsAct" bombshell reporting by @samanthaellimax @jessyednews https://t.co/dvjR4qfCKw
The allegations span decades and place NYC’s jail system in the company of other powerful institutions plagued by massive sexual abuse scandals in recent years, including Columbia University, USA Gymnastics and the Catholic Church. Read the story: https://t.co/WSv2qHRPXK https://t.co/OrBlGl2Cpx
“A system where jail employees groped detainees, forcibly kissed them, ordered them to perform oral sex and engaged in violent rape.” Jaw-dropping investigation from @jessyednews @samanthaellimax @Gothamist @c_werth into decades of sexual abuse @ Rikers https://t.co/2uRYapH4iP
Vital and important reporting from my @WNYC @Gothamist colleagues @samanthaellimax and @jessyednews Late-night sex assaults. Invasive searches. The 700+ women alleging abuse at Rikers. https://t.co/001pTRUbSB via @gothamist
“Late-night sex assaults. Invasive searches. The 700+ women alleging abuse at Rikers.” Really good reporting by Gothamist https://t.co/n8ZI0KDNBp
Late-night sex assaults. Invasive searches. The 700+ women alleging abuse at Rikers. https://t.co/I5Bf2MLPkA